Monday, May 12, 2014

Hen-Tastic

I was out hunting Saturday morning and had these three hens around me for over three hours. Anywhere from 10 feet to 40 yards. If they only had beards I would be a happy man right now. They were like live decoys! Thanks Austin Young for all of your calling and hard work this morning.

 

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

1st Day of Pa Turkey Season

I went hunting on Saturday morning.  It was the first day of the Pennsylvania spring turkey season.  I was hunting with the Western Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors in 84 pa.

Jeff and Hayes helped Phillip and me get to and into the ground blind then Hayes set up our decoys for us.  Phillip and I got our wheelchairs set up and began calling.

It was a beautiful morning and we were seeing birds right away.  The first turkey made an appearance at daybreak, it was a hen at 150 yards.  She came into about 50 yards and milled around for quite sometime.

Next, out came a nice gobbler and three hens. He was strutting at 100 yards but would not leave his hens.  It was beautiful to see.

A short time later a long beard appeared 10 yards from my ground blind just to my right. Neither Phillip nor I could turn our chairs to get a shot at him. He was a boss Tom and strutting for our decoys.  It wasn't long before a second gobbler appeared to the right. Again neither one of us could get a shot. But at least we were seeing birds.

Around 10 AM a nice gobbler started strutting 60 yards in front of me. After a while I decided it was now or never and I had to take the shot, he was not going to come in any closer. I rolled the Tom over with my shot and he was flopping around. Phillip shot and hit him at this point (I only load 1 shell) but this gobbler got up and flew down over the bank.

Hayes went to look for my turkey but was unable to find him. Turkey's are tough to kill especially at 60 yards even with 3" magnum 12 gauge #6 loads.

I am hoping to go out this Saturday and try my new box call from Thunder Mountain Game Calls.  Wish me luck!



Monday, May 5, 2014

Mobility-challenged fishing

Find it hard to get around, especially on the water? The Post-Gazette will hold a free mobility-challenged fishing event Sun., May 18 on Loyalhanna Creek in Westmoreland County. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the state will block motor traffic on the low cement Sleepy Hollow bridge connecting eastbound and westbound Route 30 west of Ligonier, one mile east of Route 217. The Fish and Boat Commission will waive license requirements and provide participants with rods, tackle and adaptive gear, and outdoors editor John Hayes and members of Forbes Road Trout Unlimited will serve as fast-water fishing coaches. Live bait, bottled water and pizza provided. Registration required at 412-263-1991 or jhayes@post-gazette.com.